News

Through the generosity of LtG Ann Torcivia and her Joey Foundation, the Bowling Green K-Kids have become a Bronze sponsor of the Kiwanis International Rose Parade Float.

During two Saturdays in December, Bowling Green K-Kids members volunteered at the Joey Foundation's jewelry booth at Tri-County. The Joey Foundation donated the proceeds from the two days to the K-Kids who used it to become a float sponsor.

As Bronze Rose Float sponsors, the Bowling Green K-Kids receive a banner patch, 40 float lapel pins and the knowledge that they are helping spread the word about the good work that Kiwanis International and the K-Family do around the globe.

The Bowling Green K-Kids are looking forward to seeing the Kiwanis International Float on television during the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Years Day.

The Kiwanis International Rose Parade Float is created by the K-Family of the Cal-Nev-Ha Kiwanis District. The 2014 Float is themed as "Bridging Children's Future." Volunteers from across the Kiwanis world are welcome to decorate the float.

During the second week of American Red Cross' National Youth Involvement Month, you can get involved by participating or hosting a Holiday Mail for Heroes event. Holiday Mail for Heroes is an annual campaign where the American Red Cross affords Americans the opportunity to send messages of thanks and holiday cheer to military members, veterans, and their families. Gather friends and family to make cards with kind messages to show your gratitude for their service. Remember to take pictures of your cards or card making party and share on social media. Use the hashtag #HolidayMail.

From December 3rd through December 20th, for each action you take to help others, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots - up to 1 million dollars' worth! What actions trigger a donation? Watch the Joy Maker video and share it with a friend. Download a card and send it to a child needing joy. Or volunteer to bring joy to someone in need and tell us about your project. Be a Joy Maker - and make your action count!

The Long Island South Central Division of Kiwanis recently held a K-Kids and Builders Club Mini-Convention at W.T. Clarke Middle/High School.

The day long event welcomed three Kiwanis New York District Governors, three Distinguished Past Governors, two District Administrators, several Lt. Governors, three Distinguished Past Lt. Governors and three District Chairmen. They all came together to motivate and inspire Kiwanis' youngest members.

The Mini-Convention hosted by the Bowling Green K-Kids and WT Clarke Builders Club began with speed learning rounds during which attendees rotated to seven minute presentations about the four Kiwanis charities as well as the Governor and First Lady's projects. During these informal presentations the K-Kids and Builders viewed videos, received information and giveaways, and discussed how to support each charity or project.

The mini-convention began with speed learning rounds which were followed by a special greeting by NYD Kiwanis Governor Joe Aiello. Session 1 offered workshops for club officers and members, chairmen and advisors.

Session two followed a snack break and included workshops about Public Speaking, Pushing Projects to the Next Level, Goal Setting, Finding a Community Need, the Kiwanis family and, Awards and Recognition.

After attendees returned to the general session room, they completed First Lady Cookie Aiello's Treats for the Troops project. The nearly 100 pounds of candy brought to the mini-convention by attendees was added to several hundred pounds of candy collected by the Bowling Green K-Kids and WT Clarke Builders Club last weekend to yield nearly 500 treat bags for US soldiers serving overseas. Each quart sized bag was filled with a variety of treats including Tic Tacs, Life Savers, chewing gum, hard candies, mints and, a personal letter of thanks.

The mini-convention concluded with a closing session at which Governor Joe Aiello issued a challenge to all the New York District K-Kids and Builders Club members and aske them to create the best video highlighting the service of their clubs.

In addition, a trophy was awarded to the Meadowbrook K-Kids club for bringing the most candy for the troops to the mini-convention.

Due to the generosity of Lt. Governor Ann, the LISC Division and Levittown's Bageltown, the mini-convention's registrations fees were not needed for the snacks and supplies. The attendees voted to donate more than $200 to Kiwanis International's Eliminate Project.

November is Kiwanis Family Month. What will your club do to let everyone know how great it is to be a Kiwanian?

There are so many things you can do in November to celebrate the shared values of the entire Kiwanis family. Your club could:

● Plan a joint service project with members of your sponsored Service Leadership Programs—or charter a new one
● Promote The Eliminate Project in your club and in your community
● Invite a new member (or members!) to join your club

And don’t forget to show your Kiwanis pride! Update your gear at the Kiwanis Store, tell everyone about your good works using public relations ideas and hang a Kiwanis club sign in your meeting place or at your town’s entrance. During Kiwanis Family Month in November, appreciate your Kiwanis family—and all the amazing work we do for your community and the children of the world.

The October K-Kids Advisory Newsletter is available online. This newsletter is produced monthly for club advisors. It includes community service project ideas, fundraising ideas, and much, much more. Don't stop after reading October's newsletter, take a few minutes to look over past issues.

Corporate sponsorships can bring additional financial resources, heightened community awareness and increased membership to your club. The new sponsorship toolkit, complete with downloadable resources, can help you to start or expand your Kiwanis-family club's sponsorship program.

The sponsorship toolkit includes proposal templates and information that will help all Kiwanis-family clubs tap into the power of sponsorship. You will learn how to:

Sponsorships benefit everyone: Your club gets more funds and your sponsors enjoy the benefits of associating with Kiwanis, a local and international organization respected for its impact in the community. Begin today with the Kiwanis Sponsorship Toolkit.

Spanning over 6 months from the original idea to its final unveiling, the Bowling Green and McVey K-Kids celebrated their completion of Kiwanis Governor Al Norato’s Governors Project promoting literacy by holding the Grand Opening of their Little Free Library on September 26, 2013.

The Bowling Green and McVey K-Kids Little Free Library was placed on the Pediatrics Unit of the Nassau University Medical Center thanks to the support of NUMC Kiwanis Club President Linda Walsh.

The K-Kids’ Little Free Library differs from a traditional library in that books may be borrowed and read but need not be returned. The Little Free Library encourages pediatric patients and visitors to take home the books and keep them. Patients and others may also donate books to the library for the enjoyment of other children.

This extended project began after the K-Kids learned of the Little Free Library Program online at www.littlefreelibrary.org. After doing a little research into the program, the K-Kids began the process of securing funds to purchase a Little Free Library. As she often does, LISC Kiwanis Lt. Governor-Designate Ann Torcivia made a generous donation from the Joey Foundation for the purchase of the Little Free Library.

Next, the K-Kids were given templates of each of the Little Free Library’s sides and roof and were asked to submit their design ideas. The K-Kids’ designs were handed off to the Nassau University Medical Center’s art therapists who beautifully combined them and painted the Little Free Library.

Thanks to book donations from many sources, including a very generous donation arranged by Bethpage Central Park Kiwanis Club President Joanne Foley, the Little Free Library was unveiled with a surplus of books.

At the Grand Opening, Bowling Green K-Kids DIPP Kira, Club President Aline and McVey K-Kids President Zack presented the Governor’s Project Banner Patch Request Form to LISC Divisional Governors Project Chair DPLG Warren Kalmanson. After the official unveiling, the K-Kids members in attendance stocked the Little Free Library with a selection of new books and free bookmarks.

Bowling Green K-Kids Faculty Advisor Lt. Governor-Elect Rich Santer and McVey K-Kids Kiwanis Advisor Carla Vultaggio enjoyed having the two clubs work together. The advisors hope that the K-Kids can continue working together to host read-alouds for patients and other projects to maintain the Little Free Library.

The K-Kids are excitingly waiting to receive their Governor’s Project Banner patches.

The National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) invites you to participate in National SAVE Day! Mark your calendars for this important event to take place on October 23, 2013. This event occurs annually during the third full week in October during America’s Safe Schools Week.

Make sure the youth in your area are collecting coins instead of candy this Halloween through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. Partner with your sponsored K-Kids, Builders Club, Key Club, CKI and Aktion Club members to maximize their efforts and funds raised. Help them plan a fundraiser, distribute Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF collection boxes and get excited about participating. Plus, make sure they send in their hard-earned funds by December 31.

Just like the past two years—when Kiwanis-family clubs collected more than US$1.1 million—funds raised by clubs will benefit The Eliminate Project. This is an amazing way for kids to help kids and have fun doing it.